Four US cricketers of Pakistani origin — Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin and Ehsan Adil — are waiting for visa clearance to travel to India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. They attended their scheduled visa appointments at the Indian High Commission in Colombo.
🚨 No Indian visa for Pakistan born USA players
Indian government has denied visas to USA cricketer Ali Khan and 3 other Pakistan born players, Shayan Jahangir, Ehsan Adil and Mohammad Mohsin ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026
What’s your view on this? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/nLkIalFFnv
— Tejash (@Tejashyyyyy) January 13, 2026
Players completed Visa Appointments But no Visas Issued
According to a Cricbuzz report, the players are currently in Sri Lanka with the USA team for the final stage of their preparations for the February tournament. They completed their visa appointments on Tuesday, January 13, but the visas were not issued at that time. There has been no official rejection.
Sources said the visa applications are still under review and are moving through normal government procedures. ICC officials confirmed that all required documents were submitted correctly before the appointments.
“They had their appointment at the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka and completed all the paperwork as instructed by the ICC,” a source told Cricbuzz.
The issue drew attention after Ali Khan shared an Instagram story mentioning a “visa denial,” which led to speculation on social media. However, officials clarified that no visa has been formally denied.
🚨 POLITICS IN SPORTS AGAIN BY INDIA 🚨
– USA player Ali Khan has reportedly been denied an Indian visa for the T20 World Cup because he was born in Pakistan.– Shame on the BCCI, shame on India. pic.twitter.com/JRI9Zdgl9p
— Rayham (@RayhamUnplugged) January 13, 2026
Need approvals from India’s Ministry of External Affairs
Such cases usually need approvals from several departments, including final clearance from India’s Ministry of External Affairs. This process is separate from cricket boards or tournament organisers.
The same rules apply to all teams in the World Cup, including squads from the UAE, Canada, Oman and Italy, which also have players of Pakistani origin.
The details of Pakistani origin players
Ehsan Adil was born in Sheikhupura and played three Tests and six ODIs for Pakistan between 2013 and 2015. He moved to the USA four years ago and now plays for Kingsmen USA. Ali Khan was born in Attock in Punjab and he was a net bowler with KKR in 2020 Played for TKR in Caribbean Premier League and Los Angeles Knight Riders in MLC , Shayan Jahangir in Karachi, and Mohammad Mohsin in Mianwali in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
🚨 SPORT LOSES, POLITICS WINS 🚨
– Ali Khan has been denied an Indian visa for the T20 World Cup since he is of Pakistani origin. pic.twitter.com/9aJ2eZ6g69
— Salman. (@TsMeSalman) January 13, 2026
Past incidents
The report added that Pakistani-origin players have faced similar problems in the past. In 2019, the Zulfiqar brothers, Sikander and Saqib, were denied visas, while Shiraz Ahmed’s visa was delayed for the 2023 World Cup. Australia’s Usman Khawaja in 2017, and England’s Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir in 2024, also faced visa issues.
Sources from the International Cricket Council said they are helping teams get visas, but this latest situation has increased their workload.
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